r/UkrainianConflict • u/JaB675 • 15h ago

TASS reports on experiments by Russian scientists using peanut and palm oil as a diesel substitute.

https://x.com/Gianl1974/status/2111208060391964685
149 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

40 comments sorted by

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44

u/Milkweedhugger 14h ago

It’s called biodiesel and it’s been around for 100+ years. It’s not exactly cutting edge technology.

Biodiesel is available in most US states and in Canada. Usually it’s blended with regular diesel fuel.

22

u/SkyIcyBlue 13h ago

And the reason for not doing it on a larger scale is that the EROEI (energy returned on energy invested) is... let's just say "not great".

10

u/ForMoreYears 12h ago

And also it's food. Not great to be converting your food stock to fuel...

4

u/Corporatecut 12h ago

Yeah but if you get hungry you can drink your fuel!

8

u/JaB675 9h ago

Russians have been doing that when their planes used alcohol as fuel.

3

u/Interesting_Study998 9h ago

Coolant, not fuel. Same result though.

5

u/EqualOrLesserValue 7h ago

You can make biodiesel with food waste instead of food, but the EROEI gets worse.

7

u/DeadAssociate 13h ago

rudolf diesel designed his engine on peanutoil

5

u/LimaCharlieWhiskey 14h ago

The trick is to squeeze all water out of the biofuel (could be recycled cooking oil). The Russians should hire Willie Nelson to consult.

21

u/CosmicDave 14h ago

neat! Russia is famous for its palm trees and peanut farms. they should do well.

9

u/akiras_revenge 13h ago

Siberian olives are so hot right now

41

u/J5966358 14h ago

Reminds me of the original Nazis that - at the later stage of their very own special military operation called World War 2 - were confronted with a severe gas shortage. So they tried to get gas out of oil shale. So yeah, maybe a good sign that the end of ruzzian nazis is near, too?

8

u/LobCatchPassThrow 12h ago

Japan was struggling for fuel too. They burned - I think - rice oil or something like that.

Apparently the smoke could be seen from beyond line of sight, and given the amount of smoke they put out, identified as enemy vessels long before engagement range.

4

u/bk7f2 9h ago edited 9h ago

This reminds me an anecdote. Soviet scientists are successfully developing a butter made from shit: it’s already spreadable on bread but it still smells.

7

u/mediandude 14h ago

They should have tried oil out of oil shale.
And then burn that oil in gas power plants.

32

u/KSDH__ 14h ago

I sincerely hope the dieselboat headed for USA is loaded with that experimental substitute 😂

4

u/future_lard 13h ago

Imagine if trump imported VEGAN diesel!

9

u/JaB675 15h ago

TASS reports on experiments by Russian scientists using peanut and palm oil as a diesel substitute.

Scientists from Yaroslav the Wise Novgorod State University (NovSU) and the K.A. Timiryazev Russian State Agrarian University (KSAU) are conducting experiments on adding peanut and palm oil to diesel fuel.

"It is possible to add peanut or palm oil to diesel fuel – the engine will operate without major disruptions," TASS quoted Alexander Kapustin, Associate Professor at the Department of Automotive Transport at NovSU, and a mechanical engineer.

However, the Associate Professor clarified that because vegetable oils are thicker and "ignite differently than diesel fuel," they cannot simply be poured into the tank:

"The fuel injection system – the pump and injectors – needs to be recalibrated for the new fuel. Without this adjustment, fuel consumption increases, and exhaust emissions become dirtier."

The publication explains that the search for an alternative to diesel fuel is motivated by environmental concerns when operating in rural areas, and the experiment was conducted on a tractor diesel engine.

During the tests, peanut oil (mixed with diesel and kerosene) showed stable operation, but increased fuel consumption by 8-10% and increased carbon monoxide emissions. Palm oil reduced soot emissions by 35-45%, but led to a sharp increase in CO concentration at high loads. In addition, due to its high freezing point (+20 °C), palm oil additives are not suitable for temperate climates, the report states.

Previously, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak stated that the capacity of Russian refineries for diesel production is twice the demand, and that they are sufficient for export.

4

u/Connect_Tear402 14h ago

So it's only usefull in Summer all it reveals that Russia has real shortages of even diesel not just gasoline.

7

u/No-Goose-6140 15h ago

Why not go straight to olive oil lmao.

4

u/Biotic101 14h ago

You might laugh but there are people driving their old diesel cars on waste oil from kitchens...

3

u/TheBKnight3 14h ago

It's hilarious that many don't do this conversion tbh. There's enough deep frying going on that restaurants give them out for free sometimes.

In the US, in every nation. But somehow...

Oil makes money.

2

u/JaB675 13h ago

increased fuel consumption by 8-10% and increased carbon monoxide emissions

2

u/No-Goose-6140 13h ago

I drive on rapeseed oil from Lidl right now. Half the price of diesel. I dont understand why they picked such weird oil types

1

u/DeadAssociate 13h ago

they wouldnt drive on rape seed oil, imagine the implications

5

u/Abject-Investment-42 14h ago

Old low pressure Mercedes diesel engines famously ran on everything including used frying fat.

It may actually work for older engines. Modern high pressure engines won’t survive it though.

1

u/Romanizer 13h ago

I guess russians are lucky that they are mainly running on old engines.

2

u/Abject-Investment-42 13h ago

They aren’t, though. At least outside of the military

4

u/cybercuzco 14h ago

Anything but EV’s.

3

u/White_Null 14h ago

Okay, definitely do not import that USA

2

u/Flimsy_List8004 13h ago

These the same folks that will be sending "millions and millions" of barrels to the Yankees? Hmmmmm

2

u/Grogg2000 7h ago

No peanuts for Ivans vodka

1

u/Ryanliverpool96 14h ago

Americans - “We ordered diesel and we got PEANUTS!”

1

u/CorvidCorbeau 14h ago

Oh wow we're back in 2010.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0016236110001134

Quote: "Concerns over current energy shortages and environmental restrictions have raised interest in the development and use of non-petroleum-based renewable fuels."

1

u/Breech_Loader 13h ago

Right, so they're planning on cutting the oil.

1

u/UskyldigeX 13h ago

They could buy Chinese gutter oil.

1

u/Nessuuno_2000 11h ago

Biodiesel is nothing new it’s like "discovering hot water" and in Italy, it is sold at ENI service stations.

1

u/Xoxrocks 10h ago

there’s 5b gallons of HEFA diesel being made in the US

Oils can be used directly but you have to keep them liquid